The US Open organizers’ controversial revamp of the mixed doubles format has received significant support, as another power couple in tennis has expressed their intention to compete. The United States Tennis Association (USTA) has announced a restructured format for the mixed doubles tournament, set to take place the week before the main US Open event.
Key changes include holding the event over just two days, with early-round matches adopting a best-of-three sets format, where games are played to four with no ad scoring. The prize money for the event is also set to increase dramatically, with organizers expecting the changes to attract more singles players to participate, as there are 16 spots available. Last year’s winners, the Italian pair Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, took home $200,000 as a team, but the champions of 2025 will see their prize jump to $1 million.
This year’s tournament will feature eight teams gaining direct entry through their combined singles rankings, with the remaining eight slots filled through wildcard entries. Tennis duo Stefanos Tsitsipas and Paula Badosa, both ranked within the top 20, are likely contenders, with Tsitsipas confirming their plans for the hard-court Grand Slam. “We are planning to play. She’s the mixed doubles partner I would always play with,” the Greek player explained. “I don’t have any other options or any other female player I would want to play mixed doubles with. She’s always under my consideration and always someone I would want to share the court with.”
Despite the excitement from some players, several doubles competitors have criticized the changes. Errani and Vavassori issued a joint statement expressing their unhappiness. “We see it as a fundamental injustice. We don’t know if we’ll have the chance to defend our title, but we hope this remains isolated,” they stated.
Support from singles players seems to be growing; Alex de Minaur and Katie Boulter have also indicated they want to be among the 16 teams. De Minaur, who got engaged to Boulter last year, stated, “Me personally, I really enjoy playing mixed doubles, so I think it’s going to be fun to hopefully play some mixed with Katie, which will be exciting. If I’m looking purely at myself and the situation I’m in, it does present an opportunity for me to play mixed doubles, which previously I probably wouldn’t have done just because as the format is right now for singles players, you’re not really going to play mixed doubles because your priority is obviously the singles.”
He added, “The way it’s proposed now, it definitely entices more of the singles players to play, and it’s an opportunity.”
During interviews at the recent ATP 500 event, both Alex de Minaur and Stefanos Tsitsipas confirmed their plans to compete in the newly formatted mixed doubles at the 2025 US Open. De Minaur remarked, “It obviously isn’t the best situation for the doubles players, who now face diminished chances, but I guess we’ll have to wait and see how the first week turns out.”
Tsitsipas also echoed this sentiment, stating, “We are planning to play. She’s the mixed doubles partner I would always play with,” affirming his commitment to Badosa. The pair, affectionately known as Tsitsidosa, previously competed together last year, though they were eliminated early.
The new look for the mixed doubles competition will be played on August 19 and 20, 2025, during US Open fan week. Matches will be staged at the prestigious Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium, enabling it to garner significant visibility. The event’s schedule change aims to cultivate more viewer interest and heighten engagement from fans.
With rising prize money and the new format, the organizers hope to draw in more top-tier singles players, potentially reshaping the dynamics of tennis doubles competitions. Many are eager to see how these adjustments impact the tournament's atmosphere and competitiveness.
Only time will tell if the criticisms from experienced doubles players will overshadow the excitement and opportunity this revamped format offers to new pairings and aspiring participants. The success of the mixed doubles at the US Open is now both freshly anticipated and hotly contested, balancing the old traditions of tennis with contemporary shifts aimed at capturing new audiences.